Effects of Stress and Exercise on Plasma Corticosterone, Plasma Cholesterol, and Aortic Cholesterol Levels in Rats

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Abstract
Rats, fed a 1% cholesterol diet, were subjected to either predictable, controllable shock; unpredictable, uncontrollable shock; or no shock for 30 days (51-min daily sessions). Half of the rats in each condition were allowed access to a running wheel for 3 h immediately after each stress session except for the final stress session. Immediately following the final stress session, animals were sacrificed and blood and aorta samples were taken. Stressed animals allowed to run showed lower plasma corticosterone levels than stressed animals not allowed to run. Stressed animals had lower levels of aortic cholesterol than nonstressed animals. Whereas running resulted in decreased levels of plasma cholesterol, aortic cholesterol levels were higher for the running animals than for the nonrunning animals.